The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-07

TEXAR'S REVENGE
BY JULES VERNE.

CHAPTER TX.


go out to see that their orders had been attended
to. When the sun rose nothing had happened.
The night had passed without incident
Next day, March 3D. James Burbank had news
by one of his assistant overseers, who had
crossed the river anG returned to Jacksonville
without awakening suspicion.
The news was undoubtedly correct and it was
important
Commodore Dupont had anchored at daybreak
in 81. Andrews Bay, on the coast of Georgia
The Wabash, on which he had hoisted his flag,
was at the head of a squadron of twenty-sx yes
sells, OF which eighteen gun boats one q
cutter one armed transport, and six were or
binary transports with Wright's brigade on
board. And, as Gilbert had said in his last let
ter. General Sherman accompanied the expedi-
ton.
Commodore Dupont whom the bad weather
had kept back. had at once set to work to take
possession of the passes of the st. Mary's. These
channels, difficult enough of access. open off the
mouth of the river of the same name to the
north of Amelia Island the frontier of Georgia
and Florida.
Fernandina, the principal position of the
island, was protected by Fort Clinch with a gar
rison Of fifteen hundred men behind its thick
stone walls. Would the Southerners hold out
against the federals in this fortress wherein
they might make heightened defense? 1t
would be thought
Nothing of the kind was done According to
the acknowledgements report, rumor had
reached Jacksonville that the coufederates had
evacuated Fort Clinch the squadron
appeared in St. Mary's Bay: and not only had
they abandoned Fort Clinch, but they had
cleared out of Fernandina, Cumberland Island.
This was all the news that reached Castle
House, but there is need to dwell on its i'm.
portance with regard to the position at Candies
Bay. Now that the federals had at last landed
in Florida, the whole State would soon be in
their power OBVIOUSLY few days would elapse
before the gun boats crossed the bar of the st.
Johns But their presence would have its eff
feet on the new authorities at Jacksonville, and
there was room TO hope that, in fear OF repri-
sals Texar and his supporters would not dare to
take action against the plantation Of so prom
inent a Northerner as James Burbank.
This was reassuring for the family. whose fear
was suddenly chang ed to hope. And Alice Stan
nard and Mrs. Burbank ceased to trembe for
Giibert's safety, with the certainty that he was
not far off and the assurance that he would soon
return. The young lieutenant at St Andrews
was within thirty miles of Candies bay He
was on board the gunboat Ottawa, which had
Just been distin guished by feat of arms unex-
celed in naval annals.
What had happened on the morning of the
I'd of March was :his. The assistant oversesr
had not ascertained these details during his
visit TO Jacksonville. but it is important that
they should be known account of the events
that followed
As soon as Commodore Dupont discovered
that Fort Clinch had been evacuted by the con-
federate garrison, he sent a. few vessels of light
draught across ST. Mary's channel Already
.he white population had retired into the interior
OF the country with the Southern troops aban-
doning the towns, villages and plantations on
.the coast There was a regular panic, due to
the fear of the reprsals which, the Secessionists
falsely stated, intended by the federal
chief Not only in Florida, out along the
Georgian frontier. along the whole extent OF
country between the bays of Ossabaw and st.
Marys, the people beat precptate retreat so
as to escape from the troops landed by General
Wright. Under these circumstances Comma
dore Dupont did not have to fire shot to get
possession of Fort Clnch and f'ernandina. The
gunboat Ottawa, which was Gilbert, accom-
panied by the Mars, acted a second and had to
use its guns in the manner following.
It
west coast of Florida on the Gulf of
Mexico by branch railway which runs to Cedar
Keys The railway runs along the coast of
Amelia island; then before it reaches the main
land it crosses Nassau creek on long bridge OF
piles
When the Ottawa reached the center of the
creek a train was OF the bridge. The garrison
OF Fernandina was in flight. taking it's provisions
with it, and followed by many OF the more or
less important people of the town. Immediately
the gunboat started at full speed toward the
bridge and fred her bow-chasers at the piles and
the train. Gilbert in charge of the firing.
and many good shots were made; among them a
shell struck the last carriage of the train and
broke the axle and the coupling. The train did
rot stop for instant-to do so would have
been dangerous-and leaving the carriage TO
look after itself, steamed off full speed to the
southwest detachment of federal troops
landed at Fernandina appeared at this moment
and rushed on the bridge The carriage was
captured with the fugitives it contained who
were chiefly civilians The prisoners were taken
to the superior officer Colonel Gardner in COM
mand at Fernandina, who took their names,
kept them for twenty-four hours OF the
vessels of the squadron, example, and then
released them.
When the train had run out of sight. the
Ottawa went off to attack and seize vessel
laden with war material which had taken
refuge in the bay. These events were cacu-
lated to spread encouragement among the con-
federate troops and the people of the Flordan
towns; and this was particularly the case at
jacksonville The estuary of the St. Johns
would be forced as easily as had been that of
the ST. Mary's; that was very evident. and prob
rvw,th
sistauce at Jacks onville than at St Augustine
and the other coast towns.
This was good news for James Burbank He
might well believe that Texar dared not now
give effect to his plans He and his partisans
would be superseded, and in due course the
honest folks would resume the power of which
outbreak of the mob had deprived them.
There was every to think in this way
and q hcLa. q M as as of Of l.